6 beta-methyl-pregnane-3 beta, 5 alpha, 17 alpha-triol-20-one and method for preparation thereof



United States Patent Ofice 2,996,502 Patented u 15, 1961 The present invention relates to the preparation of compounds represented by the following formula wherein R OH or =0, which are useful intermediates for preparing compounds of high biological activity in the field of progestative and cortical hormones.

As starting materials compounds represented by the following formula have been selected ON OH wherein R is an acetoxy group in 5 position or an ethylene glycol ketal.

The 3/3 acetoxy androst 5 ene 17B cyano- 17a-ol (A. Butenandt and J. Schmidt-Thome, Ber. 71, 1487; 1938) and the 3-ethylenedioxy-androst-5-ene-17B- cyano-l7a-ol (A. Ercoli and P. de Ruggieri, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 75, 650; 1953) was epoxidated with perbenzoic acid or monoperphthalic acid to yield a mixture of a and fi-oxides separated by crystallization. The 3;? acetoxy 50,6a oxide androstane 175 cyano- 17a-ol, and 3-ethylenedioxy 5a,6a oxide androstanel7l3-cyano-l7-ol, when treated with 2,3-dihydropyran in presence of catalytic amounts of phosphorus oxychloride or p-toluenesulfonic acid afford the 3,8-acetoxy-5u,6moxide androstane 17,8 cyano 17a (2' tetrahydropyranyloxy) and 3 ethylenedioxy 501,60; oxide androstane 17/3 cyano 17cc (2 tetrahydropyranyloxy).

These tetrahydropyranylethers are oriented in 170: position and are completely stable towards Gn'gnards reagents instead of the free 17 hydroxy compounds; therefore, when treated with methyl magnesium bromide or iodide, they afford after decomposition of the 20-ketimines and at the same time of the ethylenedioxy group the 6,3 methyl pregnane 35.50;,1711 triol 20 one and the 6/3-methyl-pregnane-5u,l7a-diol-3,20-dione.

The following examples are given to further illustrate the products and process of the present invention and are not be construed as limiting.

Example 1.3}3 acetoxy 5a,6a oxide androstane- 7,3-cyano-1 7oz-0l A solution of 1.0 part of 3B-acetoxy-androst-5-ene- 17fl-cyano-17a-ol in parts of chloroform was treated with 1.0 part of perbenzoic acid dissolved in 10 parts of 2 ethyl acetate for 5.5 days at room temperature. After dilution with water, the organic layer was washed with a 2 N aqueous solution of sodium carbonate, followed by water, dried over Na SQ- and concentrated in vacuo to dryness. After crystallization from ether the u-oxide was separated at M.P. 178-182. C. dec.

Example 2. 3 ethylenedioxy 50,6a oxide androstune-1 7B-cyano-1 70t-Ol A solution of 1.0 part of 3-ethylenedioxy-androst-S- ene-17fi-cyano-17a-ol in 20 parts of chloroform was treated with 13 parts of a ethereal solution of 0.7 part of monoperphthalic acid for 24 hours at 05 C. The phthalic acid precipitated was filtered off from the mixture, and washed with chloroform; the organic layer was washed with 2 N aqueous solution of sodium carbonate followed by water, dried over Na SO and concentrated in vacuo to dryness. After crystallization of the residue from ether the a-oxide was separated at M.P. 186488 C. dec.

Example 3. 3 3 acetoxy 5a,6a oxide androstane,- 1 7,8-cyano-Z 7u- (2 -tetmhydrqpymnyloxy) A solution of 1.0 part of 3fl-acetoXy-S'a,fiu-oxide-ana drostane-17-cyano-l7-ol in 4.0 parts of 2,3-dihydropyran was treated at room temperature for 4 hours with 0.05 part of phosphorus oxychloride. The solution was then diluted with ether, washed with 2 N aqueous solution of sodium carbonate followed by water, dried over sodium sulphate and distilled at reduced pressure. The residue was crystallized from ether to yield the SB-acetoxy- 511,60: oxide androstane 17B cyano 17cc (2 tetrahydropyranyloxy). M.P. 183-186 C. dec.

Example 4.3 ethylenedioxy 5a,6a oxide androslane-1 7,8-cyan0-1 7OL- 2-tetrahydropyranyl0xy) Example 5.6[3 methyl pregnane 313,5 ,17a triol- 20-one A solution of 1.0 part of BB-acetoXy-Sa,fiu-oxide-androstane 17/3 cyano 17cc (2' tetrahydropyranyloxy) in 30 parts of anysol was treated with 50 parts of ethereal solution of methyl magnesium iodide (from 3.3 parts of magnesium). The ether was removed and the mixture kept at 90-95 C. for 16 hours. After decomposition with 100 parts of acetic acid and parts of water, the mixture was refluxed for 15 minutes and the solvent was removed by steam distillation. The aqueous suspension was filtered and crystallized from acetone to give the 6 3methyl-pregnane-3B,5u,17u-triol-20-one, M.P. 245-249 C.

Example 6.-6B methyl pregnane 5 0a,] 7 a dial 3,20- diane A solution of 1.0 part of 3-ethylenedioxy-5ape-oxideandrostane 17,6 cyano 17cc (2' tetrahydropyranyloxy) in 40 parts of anysol was treated with 50 parts of ethereal solution of methyl magnesium bromide (from 3 parts of magnesium). The ether was removed and the mixture kept at -95" C. for 16 hours. After decomposition with 70 parts of ice-cooled sulfuric acid 2 N, the mixture was refluxed for 15 minutes, the organic layer separated, and the aqueous-phase was extracted with ether.

wherein R is a member selected from the group consistof OH and which comprises reacting a member selected from the group consisting of 3pacetoxy-androstene 17B cyano 17a. 01 and 3 ethylenedioxyandrost 5 ene 17B cyano 17oz 01 with a. peracid selected from the group consisting of monoperphthalic acid and perbenzoic acid, treating the resulting a-oxidecyanohydrins with 2,3-dihydropyran in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of phosphorus oxychloride and p-toluenesulfonic acid, treating the tetrahydropyranylethers with a methyl magnesium halide selected from the group consisting of bromide and iodide and finally decomposing with an acid selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid and acetic acid the 20-ketimines and at the same time the ethylenedioxy group. i V

2. The 3/3 acetoxy 5e,6a oxide androstane 17pcyano-l7u-ol. V

3. The 3 ethylenedioxy 50,6u oxide -androstane- 17fl-cyano-17u-o1. 1

4. The 35 acetoxy 5u,6u oxide androstane 17B- cyano-17a-(2'-tetrahydropyranyloxy) 5. The 3 ethylencdioxy 5m,6a oxide androstane- 17fl-cyano-17u-(2'-tetrahydropyranyloxy).

6. The 6 3 methyl pregnane 3fi,5a,17a triol 20 one.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,136,401 Strassberger Nov. 15, 1938 2,326,756 Butenandt Aug. 17, 1943 2,763,671 Fried et a1. Sept. 18, 1956 2,842,572 Herr et a1. July 8, 1958 2,873,273 De Ruggieri et a1. Feb. 10, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Madaeva et al.: Zhurnal Obschei Khimii, vol. 10, No. 3, pages 213-16 (1940). I Fieser and Fieser: Natural Products Related to Phe-v nanthrene, pages 375, 386, 393 (1949).

Babcock et al.:

I.A.C.S., vol. 80, pages 2904-5 (June' 5, 1958). g I i 

1. A METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF COMPOUNDS HAVING THE FOLLOWING FORMULA
 6. THE 6B - METHYL - PREGNANE - 3B,5A, 17A - TRIOL - 20ONE. 